Would you rather spend hours searching for scholarships or years repaying student loan debt? We, too. Here are our greatest recommendations for locating scholarships and writing the most effective applications.
1. Apply for local scholarships
Local scholarships are available in many areas through clubs, organizations, small businesses, and donors. Because these scholarships are offered to a smaller group of students, the chances of winning are higher. Here's how to look for local scholarships:
- Consult your professors and a guidance counselor.
- Look for local media websites, such as television and radio stations.
- Examine community portals
- Make use of geographical Internet searches, such as “scholarships in Texas.”
- Inquire with graduates
- Use a personalized scholarship search tool, such as our Scholarship Match or the Scholarship Search tool in the Money College Planner's premium version.
2. Apply for scholarships with smaller awards
Many students opt for scholarships with the highest monetary value, but they are also the most competitive. Scholarships with lesser prizes typically have fewer applications, which increases your chances of winning. These scholarships can help with college expenses such as books, supplies, and living fees. Paying off such minor bills can quickly build up to significant savings.
3. More work better chances
Many students avoid scholarships that necessitate a significant amount of work, such as essays, videos, and projects. As a result, the candidate pool is substantially smaller, which means you have a better opportunity. Grants requiring essays of more than 1,000 words frequently have less than 500 candidates, as opposed to the 5,000 students who compete for easier scholarships.
4. Get personal
Instead of exhausting yourself by applying for every scholarship available, have some fun! Apply for scholarships that are relevant to your hobbies and that you would like. Scholarships are available for everyone under the sun: zombie fans, vegans, Magic: The Gathering aficionados, and so on. The more personal the scholarship, the more probable it is that your passion will shine through, resulting in a bequest.
5. Don’t introduce yourself in your essay
It's cliche, and it may get you disqualified. Many scholarship committees do blind readings, and writings that include names or other identifiers are dismissed right away. Get right to the point as soon as feasible.
6. Don’t repeat the essay prompt
Nobody wants to read the same sentence hundreds of times every day. Be unique! Use the first paragraph of your essay to highlight your uniqueness and distinguish yourself from the throng. Start your essay by setting the stage for a story or by diving right into your answer.
7. Don’t use quotes
Your essay should focus on you. The finest essays are one-of-a-kind and stand out from the crowd, so be creative and use your own words.
8. Satisfy all the requirements
You could write the best essay in the world, but if the prompt requests a list of five items and you only provide four, you may be dismissed. Make certain that you have answered all of the questions and that you have met all of the requirements.
9. Stick to the word limit
Get as close to the word limit as you can without exceeding it. You may be disqualified if you exceed the word limit.
10. Proofread
Misspellings and grammatical errors may result in disqualification. Make sure to reread your essay at least twice and to have it reviewed by your parents and friends as well. The more eyeballs there are, the better.
11. Submit early
Don't wait until the deadline if there's a problem with the website, your Internet connection, or your computer.
12. Apply on many scholarships as you can
The most common suggestion we hear from scholarship winners is to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Consider it a part-time job, and set aside several hours each month to search for and apply for scholarships. You should apply for scholarships as long as you are in school.
13. Don’t give up!
Don't take it personally if you don't win, and DON'T GIVE UP! The most successful scholarship winners, like most things in life, are the ones who keep trying. Find scholarships that interest you and keep applying. Best wishes!
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Pro: You may snag a better mortgage rate
According to David Mele, president of Homes.com, "it never hurts to browse around." “A lot of borrowers stay with their lender when refinancing because they are familiar with them, but you should always compare quotations to ensure you are getting the best deal,” Mele advises.
